Improvement in book-supports



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID E. MORGAN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO WILMOT V. WHITE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOK-SUPPORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,957, dated January 23, 1872.

I, DAVID E. MORGAN, of the city of Oincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Book-Clamps, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists, generally, of two arms sliding upon an upright and having a device for tightening the grasp of the arms upon the pages of a book placed between the extremities of said arms; these arms being adjust-able at any point along the length of, the upright, and being held at any desired point by the vertical pressure upon the arms by the aforesaid tightening device.

By this mechanism I obtain a cheap, simple, easily-adjustable, and durable bookclamp, which is very useful in holding open the pages of large and cumbrous volumes, as ledgers, records, and the like.

' In the accompanying drawing, Figure I is a view in perspective of my invention, and Fig. II is a side elevation of the same when employed in holding open a book.

A is the upright, made of any desirable material. To the bottom of this standard is attached a foot, B, whose whole length extends out on one side of the upright and under the arms far enough to support both the standard and arms 0; and D are arms of one length, one end of each of which is attached to the upright A. These arms extend out on the same side of the upright and in the same vertical plane. They fit closely, but slide easily, upon the upright A. I prefer to make the upright transversely of a rectangular shape, so as to prevent the arms from turning laterally on it; but its shape is not material. A button, P, on the top of A, prevents the arms from sliding off. The top of the outer extremity L of the lower arm has a smooth flat surface, which fits it for pressing against the outside of the book. In the outer extremity K of the upper arm is a female screw, through which passes a male screw, W. The heel of the latter, below the extremity K, is connected to and supports a broad foot, M, by means of a swivel-j oint.

The screw W is operated by a button, N,

placed upon its top and above the extremity K. The tightening device may, if desired. be attached to the lower arm D. Any equivalent of a tightening device may be used instead of screw W.

The button P on the upright is not a material part of my invention.

My method of adjusting the clamp is as follows: A book, S,is opened at the desired page, theleaves and cover to be clasped beingbrought between the foot M and the extremity L of the lower arm and are held so as to be parallel with the table; the arm I) is then slid up until its outer extremity L touches the book-cover, and the upper arm 0 is sliddown until the foot presses upon the leaves; the foot is then tightened upon the leaves by means of screw W. The oblique pressure of the parts E and H of the arms upon the upright, caused by the extremities K and Lof said arms being forced apart, holds the arms firmly at the point where stationed. The cover and the desired number of leaves are thus held securely open at such height as will not injure the back of the book.

To remove the clamp from the book or to change the number of leaves to be held open one need only loosen the foot M by turning the screw W, when the arms will again be free tp slide upon the upright to such a point as is desired.

What I claim as new is- 1. The combination of the upright A and the arms D and O sliding thereon, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The screw W, with swiveled foot M, or any equivalent tightening device, placed upon one of the sliding arms, and in combination with the other sliding arm, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The supporting-foot B, in combination with the upright A, and the arms 0 and D sliding upon said upright, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

' D. E. MORGAN.

' Witnesses:

G. PARSLOW, P. M. SHUEY. 

